Internship Career Opportunities

Graduate student interns are welcomed and valuable participants in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation's (OVR) efforts to serve Pennsylvanians with disabilities.

 

The internship enables students to acquire knowledge and experience in the areas of federal laws and regulations, state policy and procedure, and counseling and case management while completing the internship requirement for a university Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling program.

OVR continually accepts applications for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern positions (job code 44825). OVR seeks outstanding applicants who share a commitment to helping individuals with disabilities to achieve employment outcomes consistent with a customer's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.

 

VR counselor internship positions exist throughout the state in 21 District Office locations of the OVR. There must be a VRC vacancy in a district office for a paid intern to be hired for that district office. Actual internship locations throughout the state are identified as current counselor vacancies occur. Several internship appointments are made during the course of a 12-month period.

 

Pennsylvania residency is not required to apply. Securing a paid internship has become a competitive process as OVR recruits nationwide.

 

View Current Counselor Vacancies

The OVR internship opportunity provides paid, professional work experience of a training nature in a highly structured 16-week internship followed by eight weeks to complete the probationary period. Interns work full time and earn $17.38 (Pay Schedule 5) with full benefits such as vacation, sick leave, health insurance, group life insurance, and other employee benefits. If you successfully complete the internship and obtain your graduate degree, you may then serve an additional 2 months as an Intern to complete your probationary period, and be promoted to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with an increase in salary to $43,932/yr.

At the time that you apply, you must be enrolled in the final year of a master's degree program in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation education, or rehabilitation administration. You should apply during the semester prior to the final semester of your master's degree program.

 

Further details regarding the application process are available by reviewing the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern Test Announcement. There is no written examination associated with this Announcement.

At the time that you apply, you must have authorization by your college or university for you to participate in the Commonwealth's Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern Program. At the time you start the internship, you must be enrolled in the final semester of the appropriate master's degree program.

You should apply at the beginning of the semester prior to the final semester of your master's degree program. The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern Test Announcement #2010-011, information on how to apply for Pennsylvania Civil Service positions and further information on employment opportunities can be obtained by contacting the State Civil Service Commission at http://www.scsc.state.pa.us/.

 

At the time of application, you must submit the completed participation form Application Supplement 2010-011-1 to participate in the Commonwealth’s Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern Program. Apply online at www.scsc.state.pa.us or submit your completed paper application and Application Supplement No. 2010-011-1 to: State Civil Service Commission, ATTN: Applications, P.O. Box 569, Harrisburg, PA 17108-0569.

 

On-line and paper applications both require submission of your participation form Application Supplement 2010-011-1 at the time of application. Send by e-mail to RA-cs-transcripts@pa.gov, fax to (717) 787-8650 or mail to the above address.

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you have questions about OVR internship opportunities, please contact LaKeysha McLaurin, OVR's Recruitment Specialist at: (717) 787-2521 voice, (717) 783-4885 TTY or via e-mail at lmclaurin@pa.gov.

 

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